Recent posts by Brad Flory | brad@lifeinplaid.com - MLive.comtag:profile.mlive.com,2015:bflory/17452015-03-31T21:06:37ZMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advanceBrad Flory column: It's been great, Jackson, but 30 years is long enoughtag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.153300882015-02-27T14:31:00Z2015-02-27T14:31:00ZThree decades is a long time, and it's long enough.This is my 1,910th and final column for the Citizen Patriot, by my choice. bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Three decades is a long time, and it's long enough.This is my 1,910th and final column for the Citizen Patriot, by my choice.
Brad Flory column: Did I really say that? The Michigan accent strikes againtag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.153119702015-02-25T18:07:17Z2015-02-25T18:07:17ZWhat do I call Detroit? The Moder Ciddy. What's that thing hanging over the bathroom sink that shows my reflection? A meer. Which nearby state elects wrestlers and comedians to high public office? Minnuhsoda.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
What do I call Detroit? The Moder Ciddy. What's that thing hanging over the bathroom sink that shows my reflection? A meer. Which nearby state elects wrestlers and comedians to high public office? Minnuhsoda.
Brad Flory column: When the smell of fish wafts over Jackson, spring is neartag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.152926452015-02-23T20:05:00Z2015-02-23T20:05:00ZOver seven Fridays during Lent, the Polish Falcons in Jackson will cook more than one ton of fish, four ounces at a time. The fish-frying tradition has gone on so long that no one seems to remember exactly when it began.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Over seven Fridays during Lent, the Polish Falcons in Jackson will cook more than one ton of fish, four ounces at a time. The fish-frying tradition has gone on so long that no one seems to remember exactly when it began.
Brad Flory column: A regular slob's guide to Oscar's nominees for best picturetag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.152682272015-02-21T13:00:00Z2015-02-21T13:00:00ZBased on my scores, I would give the Oscar to "Selma" or "The Imitation Game." That means neither film has any chance to win, because movie people hate agreeing with regular-slob tastes.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Based on my scores, I would give the Oscar to "Selma" or "The Imitation Game." That means neither film has any chance to win, because movie people hate agreeing with regular-slob tastes.
Brad Flory column: Who is the idiot now? Me, maybetag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.152468922015-02-18T17:40:08Z2015-02-18T17:40:08ZTalk cannot lead to action at the Hotel Hayes unless developers think they will make money, and that would mean one of two things has changed in Jackson since 2004.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Talk cannot lead to action at the Hotel Hayes unless developers think they will make money, and that would mean one of two things has changed in Jackson since 2004.
Brad Flory column: Remembering 'real' paczki from when Jackson kitchens sizzled with Old World flavortag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.152278182015-02-16T14:34:00Z2015-02-16T14:34:00Z"My paczki wouldn't sell good in stores," said David Zakrzewski of Spring Arbor, "but that's about as authentic as you can get."bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
"My paczki wouldn't sell good in stores," said David Zakrzewski of Spring Arbor, "but that's about as authentic as you can get."
Brad Flory column: Exploring a mostly beautiful romance put on public display tag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.152037032015-02-13T16:34:09Z2015-02-13T16:34:09ZValentine's Day, a holiday of romance, is a fitting time to penetrate the aura of mystery by allowing my wife to answer the question put to her so often: How do you put up with him, you poor thing?bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Valentine's Day, a holiday of romance, is a fitting time to penetrate the aura of mystery by allowing my wife to answer the question put to her so often: How do you put up with him, you poor thing?
Brad Flory column: Untangling the baffling 'structural deficit' facing Jackson Countytag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.151871262015-02-11T18:11:00Z2015-02-11T18:11:00ZAfter examining audits and budgets to a degree not to be wished upon anyone with a real life, I offer two explanations for why Jackson County finances appear good and bad at the same time.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
After examining audits and budgets to a degree not to be wished upon anyone with a real life, I offer two explanations for why Jackson County finances appear good and bad at the same time.
Brad Flory column: Trials and tribulations of an unhealthy man who likes diet colatag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.151676712015-02-09T19:00:03Z2015-02-09T19:00:03ZThe reason I habitually drink diet cola has nothing to do with cutting calories. As a general rule, I adore calories. I drink diet cola because I prefer the flavor.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
The reason I habitually drink diet cola has nothing to do with cutting calories. As a general rule, I adore calories. I drink diet cola because I prefer the flavor.
Brad Flory column: Finding the keyboard wizard of the State Prison of Southern Michigantag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.151478562015-02-06T19:33:54Z2015-02-06T19:33:54ZMann Lewis Jr. is making music on the outside now, and he does not hide his prison past. His song "Truth" includes the lines "29 years in prison/I did the time/half my life/lived the rhyme/paid the price."bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Mann Lewis Jr. is making music on the outside now, and he does not hide his prison past. His song "Truth" includes the lines "29 years in prison/I did the time/half my life/lived the rhyme/paid the price."
Brad Flory column: Urges to spy on wild animals can spin out of controltag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.151276772015-02-04T18:13:12Z2015-02-04T18:13:12ZConsulting with wildlife expert Jerry from East Jackson, I decided to collect road kill as bait to lure coyotes into camera range. Unfortunately, my wife does not share the vision possessed by me and Jerry.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Consulting with wildlife expert Jerry from East Jackson, I decided to collect road kill as bait to lure coyotes into camera range. Unfortunately, my wife does not share the vision possessed by me and Jerry.
Brad Flory column: What a regular slob can learn in Mental Health First Aid classtag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.151104232015-02-02T17:19:00Z2015-02-02T17:19:00ZLet's face it, our response when dealing with people who have mental health disorders is often a mixture of avoidance and sarcasm. That's not helpful.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Let's face it, our response when dealing with people who have mental health disorders is often a mixture of avoidance and sarcasm. That's not helpful.
Brad Flory column: Flaws and all, Super Bowl Sunday is still an unofficial holidaytag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.150899172015-01-30T18:45:08Z2015-01-30T18:45:08ZSinger Katy Perry is the Super Bowl halftime star, and so much breathless speculation surrounds her performance that a person might think the 12.5 minutes she will spend onstage is in some way important.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Singer Katy Perry is the Super Bowl halftime star, and so much breathless speculation surrounds her performance that a person might think the 12.5 minutes she will spend onstage is in some way important.
Brad Flory column: Well, what do you know? The Cha-Ching Moment arrives in Jacksontag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.150674572015-01-27T17:42:06Z2015-01-27T17:42:06ZThis is unfamiliar territory for Jackson City Hall. Municipal leaders are not accustomed to fighting about what extra money can or cannot do.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
This is unfamiliar territory for Jackson City Hall. Municipal leaders are not accustomed to fighting about what extra money can or cannot do.
Brad Flory column: Reaching for new heights of glory at Jackson's Chili Cook-Offtag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.150541792015-01-26T18:31:00Z2015-01-26T18:31:00ZChili is simple food cooked in astonishingly varied ways, and everyone has a different idea of what tastes best. That makes a food competition interesting and popular.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Chili is simple food cooked in astonishingly varied ways, and everyone has a different idea of what tastes best. That makes a food competition interesting and popular.
Brad Flory column: How one man learned to accept humiliation and love a plumbertag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.150316402015-01-23T18:00:00Z2015-01-23T18:00:00ZFive sweaty and frustrating hours passed. With horror, I realized my wife would soon come home to discover I broke the house and could not turn the water back on.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Five sweaty and frustrating hours passed. With horror, I realized my wife would soon come home to discover I broke the house and could not turn the water back on.
Brad Flory column: Welcome to childhood in the day of constant supervisiontag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.150145032015-01-21T18:00:00Z2015-01-21T18:00:00ZWhat do we hope to accomplish by insisting kids must have constant supervision? And are we succeeding?bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
What do we hope to accomplish by insisting kids must have constant supervision? And are we succeeding?
Brad Flory column: Jackson's fling with bold municipal reform as viewed exactly a century latertag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.149953162015-01-19T16:15:00Z2015-01-19T16:15:00ZPolitical disagreements and factions within Jackson city government in 1915 revolved almost entirely around saloon interests. Saloons were a focal point for deeper social, economic, and religious divisions.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Political disagreements and factions within Jackson city government in 1915 revolved almost entirely around saloon interests. Saloons were a focal point for deeper social, economic, and religious divisions.
Brad Flory column: What the May 5 vote means for roads in Jackson Countytag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.149765642015-01-16T18:12:37Z2015-01-16T18:12:37ZUnder normal circumstances, you'd figure asking Michigan voters to raise the sales tax is comparable to a slob like me asking Sandra Bullock for romance.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Under normal circumstances, you'd figure asking Michigan voters to raise the sales tax is comparable to a slob like me asking Sandra Bullock for romance.
Brad Flory column: Praise for the much-maligned Midwest lifestyletag:www.mlive.com,2015:/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/4596.149590172015-01-14T18:30:19Z2015-01-14T18:30:19ZCelebrities malign the Midwest with condescending wisecracks about people who think Tater Tots are a food group. But we should know Tot Casserole just begins to hint at the richness of life here.bfloryhttp://connect.mlive.com/user/bflory/index.html
Celebrities malign the Midwest with condescending wisecracks about people who think Tater Tots are a food group. But we should know Tot Casserole just begins to hint at the richness of life here.